Shloka 32

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

रावणस्य गृहे रुद्धामस्माभिस्तु सुरक्षिताम्।न त्वां शक्तः परित्रातुमपि साक्षात्पुरन्दरः।।5.24.32।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇasya gṛhe ruddhām asmābhis tu surakṣitām |

na tvāṃ śaktaḥ paritrātum api sākṣāt purandaraḥ ||5.24.32||

Translation

Du bist im Hause Rāvaṇas eingeschlossen und von uns gut bewacht; selbst Purandara (Indra) persönlich vermöchte dich nicht zu retten.

Word by Word

• kuruṣva: do; heed
• kuruṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• hitavādinyā: by the well-wisher (speaker of good)
• hitavādinyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + vādinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: "hitaṃ vadati"), Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana; "by/at the instance of the well-speaking (woman)"

• vacanaṃ: word; advice
• vacanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana

• maithili: O Maithili
• maithili: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• alam: enough
• alam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; paryāpti/niṣedha sense (enough/stop)

• aśru-prapātena: with the flow of tears; by weeping
• aśru-prapātena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक) + prapāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-tatpuruṣa: aśrūṇāṃ prapātaḥ), Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• tyaja: abandon
• tyaja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• śokam: sorrow
• śokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• anarthakam: useless
• anarthakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-artha-ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of "śokam"

Context

'You are in Ravana's house, well-guarded by us. It is not possible even for Indra, destroyer of citadels, to come to your rescue (let alone Rama).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Indra (Purandara)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is contrasted with fear-based domination: the captors claim that even divine power cannot undo their wrongdoing. The epic repeatedly teaches that adharma may appear strong temporarily, but it cannot stand against truth and righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasīs attempt to crush Sītā’s hope by asserting that her imprisonment is so secure that even Indra could not save her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s faith in righteousness and her unwavering fidelity—she refuses to accept a conclusion based on intimidation rather than truth.